Former television presenter Olivier Galzi, 54, unveiled the key points of his electoral program at an event in Avignon on January 29. Running without a party label but with a right-leaning agenda, he aims to position himself between the National Rally and a divided left. Over 700 people attended his presentation, showing growing interest in his campaign.
Olivier Galzi, former journalist for France 2, LCI, and i-Télé, has emerged as a key figure in Avignon's municipal election campaign, a city of 90,000 residents governed by the left for two terms. On January 29, at La Scala, a former cinema in the city center near the Palais des Papes, he outlined his main measures without notes, showcasing his presenter skills. "This is the pivotal event of my campaign," he stated, emphasizing its significance.
The event drew over 700 attendees, filling the venue, while nearly 250 others were turned away and given copies of the program. Galzi, with his open-collar white shirt and charming smile, shook hands and chatted with guests, expressing regret for those excluded.
Outgoing mayor Cécile Helle (Socialist Party) is not running again and has delayed endorsing David Fournier, her Socialist deputy. Among the five other candidates, ranging from the National Rally to La France Insoumise, none match Galzi's media presence, frustrating some rivals. His personal strategy, label-free but right-anchored, targets an intermediate electorate in a fragmented political landscape.